Starting device for lapping-machines



A. ST. ONGE.

STARTING DEVICE FOR LAPPIN G MAHINES. APPLICATION HLED IAN-16, 1920.

1,362,446. atented Dec. 14, 1920.

humus PATENT OFFICE.

AMASA ST. ONGE, OF UNION, SOUTH CAROLINA.

STARTING DEVICE FOR LAPPING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

Application filed January 16, 1920. Serial No. 351,929.

I 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AMAsA ST. ONGE, of Union, in the county of Union andState of South Carolina, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Starting Devices for Lappin -Machines; and I do herebydeclare the fodlowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

In lapping machines which receive scutched cotton from batting machinesand compact it into a lap or fleece upon a roller, it is customary toemploy a handle to bring the operating gears into mesh to resume thelapping process after it is interrupted to remove a previously formedlap. This step of actuating the handle is usually the sixth in order,being preceded by the acts of releasing the friction devices, raisingthe logger heads out of contact with the lap,

removing the lap pin, removing the lap, and

replacing the pin.

My invention provides a foot actuated device to bring the operatinggears into mesh, which in addition to providing increased leverage andfacilitating the action both in power and time, also permits of this.step being the fourth in order as the operator has his hands free toremove the pin, remove the lap and again put the pin in place for thesucceeding operation before the cotton feed is ready to receive the pin.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of portion of a lapping machine equippedwith my improved device, showing conventionally the connection betweenthe starting device and the gears. Fig. 2 shows the device detached.

The lapping machine is indicated generally at 1. 2 indicates a lap and 3a lap pin. 4 is one of the logger heads raised and lowered by wheel 5 aswell known in the art. A treadle 6 also is indicated. This controls thefriction devices acting upon the lap. All of these parts may beconstructed and operated in any preferred manner as they constitute nopart of my invention.

I provide a starting attachment which may be applied to the standardtypes of lapping machines now in use. As shown in Fig. 1 these machinesare provided with arms 7 adapted to be raised to bring the operatinggears 8 into mesh. Such an arm is fulcrumed at 9 and forms the bearingfor pinion 10 to mesh with .the gear. A weighted trip lever 12 has ashoulder 13 to engage the arm and hold it elevated. A pawl 14 rotateswith the machine and when a predetermined quantity of cotton has beenrolled this pawl pushes lever 12 out of engagement with arm 7 and thearm falls by gravity. The arm 7 terminates in a handle 15 adapted to belifted by the attendant.

My attachment is indicated at 16. It comprises a treadle lever 17fulcrumed on a bracket 18 secured to the floor. A link 19 is fulcrumedat one end to the short arm 20 of lever 17 and at its other end to anarm 21 formed with a bracket 22 adapted to receive the gear actuatingarm 7 of the machine. The bracket is shown formed by two flanges, thelower one 23 having an upturned lip 24 at its inner edge and the upperflange 25 having a binding bolt 26 extending through it to insurepositive engagement with the arm 7 A locking nut 27 is shown tapped onthe bolt. The link is formed with a plurality of holes to allow of ad:justment.

To those familiar with the operation of these machines the advantages ofmy device will be apparent. After the attendant has pressed the treadle6 to release the friction devices and has turned wheel 5 to elevate thelogger heads a and removed the pin 3 he may actuate the starting deviceby depressing lever 17 as he removes the lap and replaces the pin,because his hands are free for these steps and he is saved the time andeffort required for manual operation.

I claim as my invention:

As an article of manufacture, a starting device for lapping machinescomprising a bracket adapted to be secured to a floor, a foot leverfulcrumed on said bracket, an arm to engage the gear actuating elementof the machine, said arm having a pair of flanges constituting abracket, the lower of said flanges having an upturned lip at its inneredge and the upper flange having a binding bolt extending therethroughand a lock nut on said bolt, and a link fulcrumed to said arm and tosaid foot lever.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

A. ST. ONGE.

